UNITED
NATIONS,
December 18 --
In the Lotte
New York
Palace Hotel
on December
18, ministers
Lavrov and
Gentiloni,
Fabius and
Kerry passed
through with
entourages; UN
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon left
early without
answering any
questions.
Hours later,
the text below
was agreed to,
to be voted on
in the UN
Security
Council.

In the
hotel lobby in
the late
morning a
Permanent Five
member of the
Security
Council's
spokesperson
briefed a
gaggle of
journalists in
the lobby amid
hissed that it
was “off the
record.”

There
was a
gingerbread
model of the
NY Palace
hotel which,
the sign said,
took 300 hours
to make. All
that was
lacking, one
wag - this one
- snarked on
Twitter, was a
little
gingerbread
Laurent
Fabuis.

Back
that UN, the 1
pm stakeout by
the EU's
Mogherini was
postponed and
then canceled.
The Security
Council
scheduled for
3 pm got
pushed back to
4. Inner
City Press
asked Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric if
Ban had
spoken, what
would he have
said? Vine
here.

PP2.
Reaffirming
its strong
commitment to
the
sovereignty,
independence,
unity and
territorial
integrity of
the Syrian
Arab Republic,
and to the
purposes and
principles of
the Charter of
the United
Nations,

PP3.
Expressing its
gravest
concern at the
continued
suffering of
the Syrian
people, the
dire and
deteriorating
humanitarian
situation, the
ongoing
conflict and
its persistent
and brutal
violence, the
negative
impact of
terrorism and
violent
extremist
ideology in
support of
terrorism, the
destabilizing
effect of the
crisis on the
region and
beyond,
including the
resulting
increase in
terrorists
drawn to the
fighting in
Syria, the
physical
destruction in
the country,
and increasing
sectarianism,
and
underscoring
that the
situation will
continue to
deteriorate in
the absence of
a political
solution,

PP4.
Recalling its
demand that
all parties
take all
appropriate
steps to
protect
civilians,
including
members of
ethnic,
religious and
confessional
communities,
and stresses
that, in this
regard, the
primary
responsibility
to protect its
population
lies with the
Syrian
authorities,

PP5.
Reiterating
that the only
sustainable
solution to
the current
crisis in
Syria is
through an
inclusive and
Syrian-led
political
process that
meets the
legitimate
aspirations of
the Syrian
people, with a
view to full
implementation
of the Geneva
Communiqué of
30 June 2012
as endorsed by
resolution
2118 (2013),
including
through the
establishment
of an
inclusive
transitional
governing body
with full
executive
powers, which
shall be
formed on the
basis of
mutual consent
while ensuring
continuity of
governmental
institutions,

PP6.
Encouraging,
in this
regard, the
diplomatic
efforts of the
International
Syria Support
Group (ISSG)
to help bring
an end to the
conflict in
Syria,

PP7.
Commending the
commitment of
the ISSG, as
set forth in
the Joint
Statement on
the outcome of
the
multilateral
talks on Syria
in Vienna of
30 October
2015 and the
Statement of
the ISSG of 14
November 2015
(hereinafter
the “Vienna
Statements”),
to ensure a
Syrian-led and
Syrian-owned
political
transition
based on the
Geneva
Communiqué in
its entirety,
and
emphasizing
the urgency
for all
parties in
Syria to work
diligently and
constructively
towards this
goal,

PP8.
Urging all
parties to the
UN-facilitated
political
process to
adhere to the
principles
identified by
the ISSG,
including
commitments to
Syria’s unity,
independence,
territorial
integrity, and
non-sectarian
character, to
ensuring
continuity of
governmental
institutions,
to protecting
the rights of
all Syrians,
regardless of
ethnicity or
religious
denomination,
and to
ensuring
humanitarian
access
throughout the
country,

PP9.
Encouraging
the meaningful
participation
of women in
the
UN-facilitated
political
process for
Syria,

PP10.
Bearing in
mind the goal
to bring
together the
broadest
possible
spectrum of
the
opposition,
chosen by
Syrians, who
will decide
their
negotiation
representatives
and define
their
negotiation
positions so
as to enable
the political
process to
begin, taking
note of the
meetings in
Moscow and
Cairo and
other
initiatives to
this end, and
noting in
particular the
usefulness of
the meeting in
Riyadh on 9-11
December 2015,
whose outcomes
contribute to
the
preparation of
negotiations
under UN
auspices on a
political
settlement of
the conflict,
in accordance
with the
Geneva
Communique and
the “Vienna
Statements”,
and looking
forward to the
Secretary-General's
Special Envoy
for Syria
finalizing
efforts to
this end,

OP1.
Reconfirms its
endorsement of
the Geneva
Communiqué of
30 June 2012,
endorses the
“Vienna
Statements” in
pursuit of the
full
implementation
of the Geneva
Communiqué, as
the basis for
a Syrian-led
and
Syrian-owned
political
transition in
order to end
the conflict
in Syria, and
stresses that
the Syrian
people will
decide the
future of
Syria;
OP2.
Requests the
Secretary-General,
through his
good offices
and the
efforts of his
Special Envoy
for Syria, to
convene
representatives
of the Syrian
government and
the opposition
to engage in
formal
negotiations
on a political
transition
process on an
urgent basis,
with a target
of early
January 2016
for the
initiation of
talks,
pursuant to
the Geneva
Communiqué,
consistent
with the 14
November 2015
ISSG
Statement,
with a view to
a lasting
political
settlement of
the crisis;
OP3.
Acknowledges
the role of
the ISSG as
the central
platform to
facilitate the
United
Nations’
efforts to
achieve a
lasting
political
settlement in
Syria;
OP4.
Expresses its
support, in
this regard,
for a
Syrian-led
political
process that
is facilitated
by the United
Nations and,
within a
target of six
months,
establishes
credible,
inclusive and
non-sectarian
governance and
sets a
schedule and
process for
drafting a new
constitution,
and further
expresses its
support for
free and fair
elections,
pursuant to
the new
constitution,
to be held
within 18
months and
administered
under
supervision of
the United
Nations, to
the
satisfaction
of the
governance and
to the highest
international
standards of
transparency
and
accountability,
with all
Syrians,
including
members of the
diaspora,
eligible to
participate,
as set forth
in the 14
November 2015
ISSG
Statement;
OP5.
Acknowledges
the close
linkage
between a
ceasefire and
a parallel
political
process,
pursuant to
the 2012
Geneva
Communiqué,
and that both
initiatives
should move
ahead
expeditiously,
and in this
regard
expresses its
support for a
nationwide
ceasefire in
Syria, which
the ISSG has
committed to
support and
assist in
implementing,
to come into
effect as soon
as the
representatives
of the Syrian
government and
the opposition
have begun
initial steps
towards a
political
transition
under UN
auspices, on
the basis of
the Geneva
Communiqué, as
set forth in
the 14
November 2015
ISSG
Statement, and
to do so on an
urgent basis;
OP6.
Requests the
Secretary-General
to lead the
effort,
through the
office of his
Special Envoy
and in
consultation
with relevant
parties, to
determine the
modalities and
requirements
of a ceasefire
as well as
continue
planning for
the support of
ceasefire
implementation,
and urges
Member States,
in particular
members of the
ISSG, to
support and
accelerate all
efforts to
achieve a
ceasefire,
including
through
pressing all
relevant
parties to
agree and
adhere to such
a ceasefire;
OP7.
Emphasizes the
need for a
ceasefire
monitoring,
verification
and reporting
mechanism,
requests the
Secretary-General
to report to
the Security
Council on
options for
such a
mechanism that
it can
support, as
soon as
possible and
no later than
one month
after the
adoption of
this
resolution,
and encourages
Member States,
including
members of the
Security
Council, to
provide
assistance,
including
through
expertise and
in-kind
contributions,
to support
such a
mechanism;
OP8.
Reiterates its
call in
resolution
2249 (2015)
for Member
States to
prevent and
suppress
terrorist acts
committed
specifically
by Islamic
State in Iraq
and the Levant
(ISIL, also
known as
Da’esh),
Al-Nusra Front
(ANF), and all
other
individuals,
groups,
undertakings,
and entities
associated
with Al Qaeda
or ISIL, and
other
terrorist
groups, as
designated by
the Security
Council, and
as may further
be agreed by
the ISSG and
determined by
the Security
Council,
pursuant to
the Statement
of the ISSG of
14 November
2015, and to
eradicate the
safe haven
they have
established
over
significant
parts of
Syria, and
notes that the
aforementioned
ceasefire will
not apply to
offensive or
defensive
actions
against these
individuals,
groups,
undertakings
and entities,
as set forth
in the 14
November 2015
ISSG
Statement;

OP9.
Welcomes the
effort of the
government of
Jordan to help
develop a
common
understanding
within the
ISSG of
individuals
and groups for
possible
determination
as terrorists
and will
consider
expeditiously
the
recommendation
of the ISSG
for the
purpose of
determining
terrorist
groups;

OP10.
Emphasizes the
need for all
parties in
Syria to take
confidence
building
measures to
contribute to
the viability
of a political
process and a
lasting
ceasefire, and
calls on all
states to use
their
influence with
the government
of Syria and
the Syrian
opposition to
advance the
peace process,
confidence
building
measures and
steps towards
a ceasefire;
OP11.
Requests the
Secretary-General
to report to
the Council,
as soon as
possible and
no later than
one month
after the
adoption of
this
resolution, on
options for
further
confidence
building
measures;

OP12.
Calls on the
parties to
immediately
allow
humanitarian
agencies
rapid, safe
and unhindered
access
throughout
Syria by most
direct routes,
allow
immediate,
humanitarian
assistance to
reach all
people in
need, in
particular in
all besieged
and
hard-to-reach
areas, release
any
arbitrarily
detained
persons,
particularly
women and
children,
calls on ISSG
states to use
their
influence
immediately to
these ends,
and demands
the full
implementation
of resolutions
2139 (2014),
2165 (2014),
2191 (2014)
and any other
applicable
resolutions;

OP13.
Demands that
all parties
immediately
cease any
attacks
against
civilians and
civilian
objects as
such,
including
attacks
against
medical
facilities and
personnel, and
any
indiscriminate
use of
weapons,
including
through
shelling and
aerial
bombardment,
welcomes the
commitment by
the ISSG to
press the
parties in
this regard,
and further
demands that
all parties
immediately
comply with
their
obligations
under
international
law, including
international
humanitarian
law and
international
human rights
law as
applicable;

OP14.
Underscores
the critical
need to build
conditions for
the safe and
voluntary
return of
refugees and
internally
displaced
persons to
their home
areas and the
re-habilitation
of affected
areas, in
accordance
with
international
law, including
applicable
provisions of
the Convention
and Protocol
Relating to
the Status of
Refugees, and
taking into
account the
interests of
those
countries
hosting
refugees, and
urges Member
States to
provide
assistance in
this regard,
and looks
forward to the
London
Conference on
Syria in
February 2016,
hosted by the
United
Kingdom,
Germany,
Kuwait, Norway
and the United
Nations, as an
important
contribution
to this
endeavor, and
further
expresses its
support to the
post-conflict
reconstruction
and
rehabilitation
of Syria;

OP15.
Requests that
the
Secretary-General
report back to
the Security
Council on the
implementation
of this
resolution,
including on
progress of
the
UN-facilitated
political
process,
within 60
days;

OP16.
Decides to
remain
actively
seized of the
matter.

On December
17, the day
before Syria
talks resumed
at the New
York Palace
Hotel in
Manhattan,
finance
ministers
spoke in the
UN Security
Council about
cutting off
financing for
ISIS. French
finance
minister
Michel Sapin
spoke darkly
of the use of
pre-paid cards
for the
November 13
Paris attacks;
Russia's
Ambassador
Churkin named
two Turkish
companies as
involved in
ISIS oil sale.

Inner
City Press
asked Syria's
Ambassador
Bashar
Ja'afari, who
came to take
questions at
the Council
stakeout,
about ISIS'
oil. He named
Turkey, then
want on to
name Qatar and
Saudi Arabia,
slamming its
“Sunni
coalition”
recently
announced.

When US
Treasury
Secretary
Jacob Lew,
along with
Sapin and the
UK's George
Osborne held a
short press
conference in
the UN
briefing room,
Inner City
Press hoped to
asked Sapin
about pre-paid
cards, and Lew
and Osborne
about Bitcoin.
But the
question, just
four, were
limited to
Reuters, the
Wall Street
Journal, the
New York and
Financial
Times. So it
goes.

It seems there
will be no
Press access
at the New
York Palace;
Ja'afari has
said he will
speak, at the
UN, and
whatever ISSG
press
availability
there is
should be at
the UN, with a
3 pm meeting
on December 18
scheduled.
Watch this
site.

Inner City
Press: On
Syria, do you
think the
Vienna process
meeting should
take place in
New York on
the 18th? Are
you satisfied
with the Saudi
process for
choosing the
opposition?

Amb Cevik: The
plans, I don’t
know how
fixed, I mean
how clear it
is, but we are
making our
preparations
for the
meeting.

Inner City
Press: Are
there any
groups invited
to Saudi
Arabia that
you think
shouldn’t be
part of the
opposition
delegation?

Amb Cevik: I
think so far,
in our view,
they are
working on the
right concept.
Let’s see if
they succeed.
Having a
coalition
group that
would be able
to take part
in the process
is one of the
most important
things.
Inner City
Press:
[Russia] said
the group that
killed their
pilot should
be put on the
terror list.
Do you have
any view on
that?

Amb Cevik: If
they know the
specifics, I
don’t know.
But to our
knowledge,
there was no
terrorist
organization,
no extreme
Daesh, Nusra,
in that area.
They are the
Turkomens, and
we know them,
they are
moderate
people.
This
may be an
issue. Watch
this site.

On Syria after
coy comments
by the UN's
Ban Ki-moon if
the next
meeting would
be in New
York, John
Kerry in
Washington at
the Saban
Forum in
Washington on
December 5
said:

"the
governments
involved are
going to meet
later in this
month in New
York in order
to continue to
move this
process
forward.
Our goal is to
facilitate a
transition
that all
parties have
stated that
they support:
a unified
Syria...The
purpose of
this
transition
will be to
establish a
credible,
inclusive
governance
within six
months.
The process
would include
the drafting
of a new
constitution
and
arrangements
for
internationally
supervised
elections
within 18
months...Meanwhile,
a nationwide
ceasefire will
go into effect
between the
government and
the
responsible
opposition,
assuming they
come to the
table and they
begin this
initial
process."

But who
is this
"responsible
opposition"?
Does it
include Al
Qaeda
affiliates?
Can
last-minute
mergers
cleanse these
groups? Watch
this site.

Back on
November 14 in
the shadow of
the November
13 Paris
attacks,
the
International
Syria Support
Group met and
issued a
statement in
Vienna, follow
by statements
by US John
Kerry,
Russia's
Sergey Lavrov
and the UN's
Staffan de
Mistura,
flashing his
pince-nez and
the
highlighted
document
below.

But
what will
happen when a
group said to
be linked to
Al Nusra is
hit by an
airstrike, and
the Free
Syrian Army
says it's
them, not
Nusra?

Meeting in
Vienna on
November 14,
2015 as the
International
Syria Support
Group (ISSG),
the Arab
League, China,
Egypt, the EU,
France,
Germany, Iran,
Iraq, Italy,
Jordan,
Lebanon, Oman,
Qatar, Russia,
Saudi Arabia,
Turkey, United
Arab Emirates,
the United
Kingdom, the
United
Nations, and
the United
States to
discuss how to
accelerate an
end to the
Syrian
conflict.
The
participants
began with a
moment of
silence for
the victims of
the heinous
terrorist
attacks of
November 13 in
Paris and the
recent attacks
in Beirut,
Iraq, Ankara,
and
Egypt.
The members
unanimously
condemned in
the strongest
terms these
brutal attacks
against
innocent
civilians and
stood with the
people of
France.

Subsequently,
the
participants
engaged in a
constructive
dialogue to
build upon the
progress made
in the October
30 gathering.
The members of
the ISSG
expressed a
unanimous
sense of
urgency to end
the suffering
of the Syrian
people, the
physical
destruction of
Syria, the
destabilization
of the region,
and the
resulting
increase in
terrorists
drawn to the
fighting in
Syria.

The ISSG
acknowledged
the close
linkage
between a
ceasefire and
a parallel
political
process
pursuant to
the 2012
Geneva
Communique,
and that both
initiatives
should move
ahead
expeditiously.
They stated
their
commitment to
ensure a
Syrian-led and
Syrian-owned
political
transition
based on the
Geneva
Communique in
its
entirety.
The group
reached a
common
understanding
on several key
issues.
The group
agreed to
support and
work to
implement a
nationwide
ceasefire in
Syria to come
into effect as
soon as the
representatives
of the Syrian
government and
the opposition
have begun
initial steps
towards the
transition
under UN
auspices on
the basis of
the Geneva
Communique.
The five
Permanent
Members of the
UN Security
Council
pledged to
support a UNSC
resolution to
empower a
UN-endorsed
ceasefire
monitoring
mission in
those parts of
the country
where monitors
would not come
under threat
of attacks
from
terrorists,
and to support
a political
transition
process in
accordance
with the
Geneva
Communique.
All members of
the ISSG also
pledged as
individual
countries and
supporters of
various
belligerents
to take all
possible steps
to require
adherence to
the ceasefire
by these
groups or
individuals
they support,
supply or
influence.
The ceasefire
would not
apply to
offensive or
defensive
actions
against Da’esh
or Nusra or
any other
group the ISSG
agrees to deem
terrorist.
The
participants
welcomed UN
Secretary
General Ban’s
statement that
he has ordered
the UN to
accelerate
planning for
supporting the
implementation
of a
nationwide
ceasefire.
The group
agreed that
the UN should
lead the
effort, in
consultation
with
interested
parties, to
determine the
requirements
and modalities
of a
ceasefire.
The ISSG
expressed
willingness to
take immediate
steps to
encourage
confidence-building
measures that
would
contribute to
the viability
of the
political
process and to
pave the way
for the
nationwide
ceasefire.
In this
context, and
pursuant to
clause 5 of
the Vienna
Communique,
the ISSG
discussed the
need to take
steps to
ensure
expeditious
humanitarian
access
throughout the
territory of
Syria pursuant
to UNSCR 2165
and called for
the granting
of the UN’s
pending
requests for
humanitarian
deliveries.
The ISSG
expressed
concern for
the plight of
refugees and
internally
displaced
persons and
the imperative
of building
conditions for
their safe
return in
accordance
with the norms
of
international
humanitarian
law and taking
into account
the interests
of host
countries.
The resolution
of the refugee
issue is
important to
the final
settlement of
the Syrian
conflict.
The ISSG also
reaffirmed the
devastating
effects of the
use of
indiscriminate
weapons on the
civilian
population and
humanitarian
access, as
stated in
UNSCR
2139.
The ISSG
agreed to
press the
parties to end
immediately
any use of
such
indiscriminate
weapons.
The ISSG
reaffirmed the
importance of
abiding by all
relevant UN
Security
Council
resolutions,
including
UNSCR 2199 on
stopping the
illegal trade
in oil,
antiquities
and hostages,
from which
terrorists
benefit.
Pursuant to
the 2012
Geneva
Communique,
incorporated
by reference
in the Vienna
statement of
October 30,
and in U.N.
Security
Council
Resolution
2118, the ISSG
agreed on the
need to
convene Syrian
government and
opposition
representatives
in formal
negotiations
under UN
auspices, as
soon as
possible, with
a target date
of January
1. The
group welcomed
efforts,
working with
United Nations
Special Envoy
for Syria
Staffan de
Mistura and
others, to
bring together
the broadest
possible
spectrum of
the
opposition,
chosen by
Syrians, who
will decide
their
negotiating
representatives
and define
their
negotiating
positions, so
as to enable
the political
process to
begin.
All the
parties to the
political
process should
adhere to the
guiding
principles
identified at
the October 30
meeting,
including a
commitment to
Syria’s unity,
independence,
territorial
integrity, and
non-sectarian
character; to
ensuring that
State
institutions
remain intact;
and to
protecting the
rights of all
Syrians,
regardless of
ethnicity or
religious
denomination.
ISSG members
agreed that
these
principles are
fundamental.
The ISSG
members
reaffirmed
their support
for the
transition
process
contained in
the 2012
Geneva
Communique.
In this
respect they
affirmed their
support for a
ceasefire as
described
above and for
a Syrian-led
process that
will, within a
target of six
months,
establish
credible,
inclusive and
non-sectarian
governance,
and set a
schedule and
process for
drafting a new
constitution.
Free and fair
elections
would be held
pursuant to
the new
constitution
within 18
months. These
elections must
be
administered
under UN
supervision to
the
satisfaction
of the
governance and
to the highest
international
standards of
transparency
and
accountability,
with all
Syrians,
including the
diaspora,
eligible to
participate.
Regarding the
fight against
terrorism, and
pursuant to
clause 6 of
the Vienna
Communique,
the ISSG
reiterated
that Da’esh,
Nusra, and
other
terrorist
groups, as
designated by
the UN
Security
Council, and
further, as
agreed by the
participants
and endorsed
by the UN
Security
Council, must
be
defeated.
The Hashemite
Kingdom of
Jordan agreed
to help
develop among
intelligence
and military
community
representatives
a common
understanding
of groups and
individuals
for possible
determination
as terrorists,
with a target
of completion
by the
beginning of
the political
process under
UN auspices.
The
participants
expect to meet
in
approximately
one month in
order to
review
progress
towards
implementation
of a ceasefire
and the
beginning of
the political
process.

When the Chair
of the UN's
Syria
Commission of
Inquiry Paulo
Sergio
Pinheiro took
questions
after a closed
door meeting
with the
Security
Council, Inner
City Press
asked him
about
airstrikes in
Syria,
particularly
by members of
the Council. Periscope video here.

Pinheiro
replied that,
not having
been to Syria
(except once
as an
individual, he
told Inner
City Press
afterward, second Periscope here),
he could not
determine the
facts of the
airstrikes.
But he said he
had urged the
Council
members
involved to
comply with
international
humanitarian
and human
rights law.

Inner City
Press: For the
2
commissioners:
with the
increasing
airstrikes by
many parties
now inside
Syria, how is
the commission
able to
collect, are
you able to
collect
information
about the
airstrikes
that occur and
to figure out
who’s doing
what? And did
you have any
guidance to,
there’s some
members of the
Security
Council who
are involved
in these
strikes, in
terms of how
to conduct
them or how to
coordinate
more? I’d just
like to know
how you’re
dealing with
this new
change.

Pinheiro: As
you know, we
investigate
violations of
human rights
law and
breaches of
international
and
humanitarian
law from – by
all warring
parties, by
government, by
the armed
groups, by the
terrorist
groups... Yes,
we had said
this to the
Security
Council in the
formal
meeting, that
we have
received
delegations
about
casualties,
about results
of those
airstrikes
that you have
mentioned. But
at this point,
we are not in
a position to
attribute what
was the
responsible,
the member
state
responsible
for this
airstrikes. We
hope by March
when, or in
February when
we release our
report, to be
in a better
position to
elaborate on
that. What we
have done, it
was what we
said at the
human rights
council, that
our roles is
to remind
member states
involved in
these
airstrikes the
necessity of
respecting the
protection of
the civilian
population in
terms of human
rights and
humanitarian
law.

It was said
the Commission
would share
information
with countries
-- or rather,
prosecutors or
courts --
looking into
their own
nationals, as
victims or
perpetrators.
Afterward,
only on
Periscope,
Inner City
Press asked
Pinheiro if
this every
implicated the
type of
privacy
concerns the
UN and its
Herve Ladsous
cite as a
basis to go
after OHCHR's
Anders
Kompass, who
blew the
whistle on
French troops'
rapes in the
Central
African
Republic,
alleged
violating
victims'
privacy.

Pinheiro said
disclosure
would require
the consent of
the victims,
but said that
is most often
given. He
summoned over
the
Commission's
Coordinator
James
Rodehaver, who
previously did
similar work
on
Afghanistan.
It was
Rodehaver who
clarified that
it is not
countries but
prosecutors
and courts
which can
request
information.
He noted that
a court in
Sweden has
cited the
Commission's
work, to show
the conditions
in a
particular
place and time
in Syria.

Pinheiro added
that the
Commission's
work should
make the type
of “Mapping”
exercises as
was done in
Eastern Congo
unnecessary.
The
information
has been
collected. Now
what? Watch
this site.Follow @innercitypressFollow @FUNCA_info